Karnataka High Court declines to suspend Prajwal Revanna’s life sentence in rape case

Senior counsel Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Revanna, had also stated during previous proceedings on the petition that the matter had become a “media trial”, while the Special Public Prosecutor Ravivarma Kumar had opposed Revanna’s release on bail, stating that he would be a “menace” to society.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, a bench of Justices K S Mudagal and Venkatesh Naik stated while rejecting Revanna’s interlocutory application, “The connected matters are still pending for trial….there is much force in the submission of the learned senior counsel (Ravivarma Kumar) that if the sentence is suspended, the witnesses in other pending cases are likely to be tampered.”

The court added, “The other ground urged by senior counsel Siddharth Luthra is that before this court, many appeals are pending and hearing of this one may take some time, and if appellant is acquitted, his liberty cannot be reimbursed….it is open to the appellant to argue the matter on merits. If there is urgency in the matter, it is open to the appellant (Revanna) to seek an early hearing, and the matter can be listed for final hearing on a priority basis. Weighing the material on record, the gravity of the offence and effect on the other pending cases if he is released on bail…..this is not a fit case for granting suspension of sentence and bail.”

Revanna’s petition will be heard further on January 12, 2026.